Yet to play a game, Dutch climb softball poll once again

Softball | March 5, 2014

PELLA—The Central College softball team moved into a tie for No. 4 in this week’s National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III rankings with its season opener still more than one week away.

It once again improves on Central’s highest preseason ranking (No. 6) in more than 10 years. The Dutch were No. 7 in the final 2013 poll after finishing in a tie for seventh at the NCAA Division III national finals in Oshkosh, Wis. Central made its 25th NCAA playoff appearance last year, capturing the eight-team NCAA Pella Regional title and advancing to its 13th national finals. The Dutch were 32-10 overall, including 12-2 in the Iowa Conference, en route to a share of their 11th league crown.

Defending champion Tufts (Mass.) remained the unanimous top pick, followed by Montclair State (N.J.) and Salisbury (Md.). Cortland State (N.Y.), which was previously alone at No. 4, is tied with the Dutch for the spot. The only team in the top five that has opened its season is Salisbury, which is 4-0. All were also national finalists last year, along with league foe Luther, which is ranked three spots behind Central at No. 7.